Dry food for puppies: features, choices and rules of feeding

There is a huge physiological difference between adult dogs and puppies, so it should be taken into account when feeding the puppy's diet so that its development is more harmonious.

And also there are features associated with the breed, pedigree and other factors. High-quality dry feed contains not only natural meat and carbohydrates, but also useful trace elements and essential vitamins.

The composition of the feed depends on many parameters, such as the price segment, varieties of specialized diets, dog breeds.

The presence of the following elements in the feed is required:

• natural meat (with lamb, poultry or beef);
• vegetables fruits;
• vitamins;
• minerals;
• proper carbohydrates (cereals).

The following components are undesirable in the feed:

• soy protein;
• preservatives, surrogates;
• palm oil and similar fats.

The main indicator of quality is the proportion of animal protein in the feed, but it should not be too much, since excessive consumption of this component can cause allergies in the puppy.

Economy-class feed formulations are rich in offal and soy proteinbut the nutritional composition, the class of which starts from premium and higher, contains a large amount of natural meat or fish, and only some use a small amount of offal.

There are quite a lot of dry feed producers in the world, they can be divided into several segments: economy class, premium, holistic and super premium class.Consider the ranking of popular manufacturers.

In the economy class, one of the most famous manufacturers is Pedigree. These feeds are quite cheap and common, they can be bought at any supermarket, and they also have a balanced composition of vitamins and minerals. But in the composition of the raw materials of this brand there is little animal protein, an abundance of plant components and a generally unbalanced composition of macronutrients.

Oscar food is relatively little known, but it can also be found on store shelves. The basis of its composition are cereal components, from which its main characteristic features flow. The only advantage of the Oscars is its low price, and from the minuses we can note the abundance of plant components, meat deficiency and the presence of preservatives.

A common feature of premium food is the presence in the composition of an increased proportion of meat (up to a quarter of the total composition), better raw materials and a generally balanced composition. Such feeds are considered more physiological than economy class feeds.

The first premium we are going to see is the Purina Dog Chow Puppy. This food is recommended for puppies up to one year old. Here, the proportion of proteins and fats is observed, trace elements and vitamins are rationally combined. The indisputable advantage of this raw material is the presence of probiotics in it., which improves the functioning of the digestive tract of the puppy. Among other advantages, it is possible to note the complex composition, complete in the spectrum of vitamins and minerals, optimal energy value and feed safety. Of the minuses - a relatively low proportion of meat, the presence of flavorings and preservatives.

The next feed in this segment will be Purina Pro Plan. The brand produces a diverse line of feed for a variety of breeds and ages. There is a wide palette of ingredients that even includes turkey meat, corn, beets, and canine colostrum analogs as a source of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and immune proteins for a growing puppy. Of the pluses, a large proportion of meat, a multivitamin set, and canned meat in the line were noted.

Many owners and breeders recommend paying attention to Royal Canin. Junior foods are specially formulated to feed puppies between 2 and 10 months old. Of the distinguishing characteristics, the presence of probiotics and phosphate compounds is also noted. Of the benefits - a rational composition, relative accessibility and safety for the puppy. Cons - the presence of preservatives and flavorings, a large proportion of offal. And also there is no indication of how much meat is contained in the composition.

Special attention should be paid to the Science Plan Puppy feed from the Hills manufacturer, which can be used starting from the first month. The features of this option are the presence of antioxidants, as well as high nutritional value. Among the advantages, a balanced set of coenzymes and microelements, a convenient form factor in the form of small granules are noted. It can be easily found in stores, which makes acquiring an easy task. But this food, like some others with corn in the composition, can cause allergic reactions in puppies with a sensitive digestive system.

Advance Baby Protect can be introduced from 3 weeks to a month old, and basically contains rice and chicken. It is easy to digest, the composition is well-chosen, and there is a huge selection of rulers. And also stated the lack of preservatives. Of the minuses - the presence of corn and offal.

A good option for feeding your puppy is Nature's Protection. It can be used from two months to a year. And also the feed fully meets the requirements of the growing organism. The composition contains a wide variety of components, both animals (fish and poultry), and others (corn, yeast). In this feed rational mineral and vitamin composition. But it has a rather high cost, despite the low content of natural meat.

Good influence on the digestive system of a puppy food holistic class, and the first of them we will consider Acana. This option is characterized by a low-carb and high-protein composition, the absence of rice, millet, and corn inclusions. Almost two-thirds of it consists of meat, and the available fruits and oats, being rich in nutrients, are hypoallergenic. Its only minus will be a very tangible price.

The second option in this group will be Now Fresh, which, unlike most other feeds, is completely grain-free. It consists of poultry meat (turkey, duck), salmon fillet, eggs, vegetables and fruits. Moreover, vegetables and fruits are quite exotic.

Grandorf food is very popular, in which there are also no grain components, dyes and flavorings are excluded from the composition. The meat in this feed is most of the total composition. Pluses - absolutely natural and ideal micronutrient structure. Of the minuses - a high (possibly unjustified) price.

First of all, choosing dry food for your puppy, decide on the price segment, while it is highly advisable to avoid the economy segment. It is preferable to choose the best of what you can afford. A good option would be the feed for the holistic segment.

Having decided on the price category, you need to familiarize yourself with the availability of feed for puppies of the breed whose representative lives in your home. Further, having selected all these feeds, study the composition of each of them, paying attention to the amount of meat, herbal supplements, preservatives, flavorings and any obscure ingredients.

For large breeds, the presence of protein is critical, because protein is the main building resource of the body. For small dogs, the absence of plant components and milk additives is very important. For medium-sized breeds in the first six months you can use food intended for small breeds, and then for dogs of large breeds.

In the process of feeding puppies with dry food It is important to consider the general rules.

• Do not save on pet food. Cheap options often contain surrogates, and the balance of micro- and macronutrients is not observed in them, which in the end can negatively affect the health of your baby.
• Accustomize your dog to a nutritional schedule so that his digestive tract adapts to a more rational mode of functioning. This diet will preserve the dog's healthy digestion for years to come.
• Dry food can very often provoke thirst in dogs, so constantly while feeding it is necessary to ensure the availability of fresh drinking water in the proportion of 3 milliliters per gram of dry food, so that the dog is more comfortable eating this food.
• Dry food must be stored properly, subject to certain conditions. Even though it is stored better than a natural diet or wet food, the feed should still be in the shade and cool.
• It is physiological to stretch the introduction of complementary foods for 2-3 weeks, which will allow digestion to adapt to the new diet.

The earliest date is three weeks from birth. Already from this age, some breeds can begin to be fed, but at this time it is too early to introduce dry food.

Nutrient is added by adding a certain amount of dry food to the natural diet with a gradual decrease in the total amount of food supplied.

In the first steps, it is necessary to grind and soak dry food granules in warm water. Dairy products such as yogurt or kefir can be used to enhance nutrition. Do not use hot water for soaking, as some vitamins are thermolabile and can be destroyed by exposure to high temperatures.

Depending on whether a large breed or a small one, switch to dry food should be in 3 months for large dogs and within six months for dogs of small breeds. It is important to take into account the anatomical and physiological characteristics of animals, such as a short gastrointestinal tract and thin tooth enamel, so late delivery of food can lead to constipation, and coarse food can damage tooth enamel, which will develop into tooth decay and destruction of dental tissue.

Serving the puppy should be in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions supplied with the feed. There should be painted options for feeding the dog.

Puppies are given specialized food, this is due to the fact that in these feeds small and very soft granules are more comfortable for puppies, as well as a composition balanced in a special way.

Up to two months the puppy is fed 4-6 times a day, up to six months - 3 times, after - 2-3 times a day.

Specialists generally have a dual view of the regimes of introducing dry food into the puppies ’diet. Some veterinarians believe that dry food cannot be used in parallel with canned food, while others, on the contrary, consider the combined use of dry food with mild more physiological.

As for the hosts, there are many positive reviews about holistic class feedthat help the puppy's digestive system function properly. Many speak negatively about the economy and even premium-class feeds, noting the appearance of reactions such as loose or irregular stools, bloating and allergies in the puppy.

For more information on feeding your puppy, see the next video.